Patient 'data may go abroad'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

GPs expressed concerns this would create a "risk to confidentiality" - particularly if records are sent to countries with a different culture of data protection.

A leaked internal NHS Connecting for Health document reveals a review is under way into whether patient data could be processed by "approved organisations" abroad, according to IT magazine Computer Weekly. It is understood there are currently no plans to do this.

This comes only days after the Government was forced to admit HM Revenue and Customs had lost two computer discs containing the personal details of 25 million child benefit claimants.

The NHS Connecting for Health document reads: "Organisations should be aware of a current review into the possibility of NHS patient data being processed overseas by approved organisations.

"The review is considering the requirements for and implications of such possible arrangements."

The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) said it would be contacting NHS Connecting for Health to check its position had not changed.

British organisations which send personal data abroad for processing remain legally responsible under the UK Data Protection Act for ensuring it is secure.

Deputy information commissioner David Smith said: "The importance of protecting people's financial records has hit the headlines but health records often contain even more sensitive personal information.

"Security is imperative, and as we have seen any system is only as secure as its weakest link. Processing people's personal information abroad is lawful, but the buck stops here."